Jennifer Lopez used to dislike her curves

Jennifer Lopez used to hate being "curvy".

The 'On The Floor' hitmaker - who has eight-year-old twins Max and Emme with her ex-husband Marc Anthony - has learned to embrace her body for what it is and is encouraging others to do the same.

She said: "It's hard to avoid comparing yourself to others, and I've definitely been guilty of it myself. I remember thinking I wasn't thin enough because I had curves.

"But I've learned that being healthy and feeling great aren't about having one specific body type; it's a completely individual thing. Feeling beautiful is an attitude, and we should all look for the beautiful things we love about ourselves, regardless of how our bodies compare to someone else."

And the 46-year-old singer and actress loves to work out but says dancing is her favourite pastime as it helps to boost her confidence.

She added: "I'm convinced working out is part of what makes me so happy. Dance has always been a huge part of my life, and taking the time to move my body and do something that's so good for me is key to my happiness.

"When my confidence is lagging, I dance. There's something about seeing what my body is capable of and feeling the endorphin rush that comes with a good dance session that really helps boost my mood. I still consider myself a dancer at heart, and I love it!"

Meanwhile, the 'Shades of Blue' beauty also opened up about the advice she would give her younger self.

She told DARE magazine: "Love yourself! Stop spending so much time worrying about what others think about you. Because when you love yourself and you're happy, that's reflected in your whole body, and that's what makes you truly beautiful. And always use a good moisturiser!"